Store furniture



Oct. 1 l 1927.

H. A. ALHEIT STORE FURNITURE Filed Aug. 51 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Judi/wit.

1,645,470 1927' H. A. ALHEIT STORE FURNITURE Filed Aug. 31. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M l i1? w 14! Z .25 7

gwvewfoz Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STORE FURNITURE.

Application filed August 31, 1926. Serial No. 132,878.

This invention relates to improvements in store furniture, especially to display cases, having for an object to provide a novel and highly advantageous form of means for attaching and supporting a display or show case to a store counter, whereby such case will be supported in a plane materially above that of the counter top andyet, within clear view of the patrons the arrangement permitting of usage of full area of the countertop by patrons and clerks as well as effecting an attractive display of the contents of the case in a position out of the way-to those persons receiving matter over the equipped counter, the device being particular desirable for use in connection with soda counters, lunch room counters, department store counters etc., where transactions and service are effected over a counter.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the device with supporting brackets of such construction as will permit of the firm and rigid connection to a counter top without alteration or mutilation of the same in any way and upon which, the display case may be arranged and supported upon arms provided therefor against accidental or undue displacement.

it is also among the aims and objects of the invention to provide the su porting brackets of the device with a nove counter clamping and attaching bracket, the same serving to have binding engagement upon the counter top and the adjacent portions of the supporting bracket, as well'as preventing longitudinal movement of said supporting bracket with respect thereto, hence, avoiding any vice mm the counter top in this way.

The invention may be also stated to have for an object the provision of a. device of the character mentioned wherein the number of parts thereof are few and of simple construction, thus permitting of manufacture at a minimum cost and providing a product which will be of durable and generally satisfactory construction.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

" In order that the invention and its mode of operation ma be readily understood by those skilled in the art I have in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed folpossibility'of disconnection of the de-V' lowing description based thereupon, set out one possible embodiment of my invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved display case supporting means showing the same arranged upon a portion of a counter,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail in perspective of one of the supporting brackets, and the clamping bracket for securing the same in fixed position upon a counter top,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of one of the clamping brackets employed in the device,-

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the supporting means;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the brackets thereof; and, v

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail in section taken on the line 6'6 of the Figure 5 looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the invention may be .stated to comprise a pair of relatively spaced verticall disposed supporting brackets consisting 0% body ortions indi cated by the numeral 1, such ody portions being preferably formed of wood, although, of course, they may be constructed of any other material, such as conditions or preference may dictate; the lower ends of each of said body portions having supporting feet 2 formed integral or fixedly connected thereto, the lower marginal portions of which are plane and regular throughout whereby the same may be firmly and flushly engaged throughout their respectiveareas'with the adjacent portions of the upper surface of a counter such as is designated forconvenience herein bythe numeral3r In this connection, it will be noted that the supporting I feet 2 of the body portions 1 are adapted to be disposed transversely of the counter top 3 7 and that the rearward ends of such feet are arranged to be in proximity to the rearward marginal portion of said counter top, whereby t icy may be positively and snugly engaged in the channeled or substantially inverted U-shaped arm portions 4 of clamping brackets indicated in their entireties by the numeral 5. These clamping brackets 5, as will be understood, are preferably formed of metal and that the same may be clamped or similarly secured to and over the edge portions of the counter top equipped therewith, inwardly disposed and substantially right angularly extending lips 6 are formed integral with the lower marginal portions of the brackets, as is indicated in the Figures 2 and 3, and these lip portions are adapted to overlap the adjacent portion of the under surface of said counter top, whereby clamping or securing grooves 7, turned into engagement .with suitable openings formed therein, may be brought into binding engagement with said counter top, thus causing the channeled arms 4 to have clamping or binding engagement with the adjacent portions of the supporting feet 2 received therein. In this way, it will be understood that the supporting feet 2 of the bottom rtions 1 of the supporting brackets will f): firmly secured in their transversal positions upon the upper surface of the counter top and likewise, that they will be prevented from having undue shifting movement with respect to said counter top or longitudinal movement with respect to the channeled arms 4 of the brackets 5 receiving the same; the extent of connection as between said supporting feet 2 and said brackets 5 being readily regulatable by varying the extent of engagement or pressure of the securing screws 7 upon the adjacent under surface of said counter top.

With a view toward providing the bottom portions 1 of, the supporting brackets with means for receiving and supporting a display case such as illustrated for convenience herein and designated by the numeral 8, horizontal supporting arms 9 are formed integral with the upper ends of said body ortlon 1 or are otherwise fixedly and rigidly joined thereto adjacent their intermediate portions as is clearl shown in the Figures 1 and 2, the extremities of said horizontal supporting arms being tipped with metal lugs 10, which, as will be appreciated upon reference to the Figure 1, are adapted to have contact with the adjacent side portions of the show case 8 and by consequence, to afford said case with abutment or stop means, which will prevent of its displacement with respect to said arms 9.

The outer portions of the bodies 1 of the supporting brackets may, if desired, be supplied with suitable forms of card holders generally indicated at this time by the numeral 11, thus permitting of the placement of cards therein for observance by counter patrons or the arrangement of menus, advertising sheets, etc., therein, such as conditions or preference may dictate.

In the Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention, wherein a pair of relativel spaced vertically disposed supporting rackets,

preferably of metal, designated by the numeral 12 are provided, the upper portions of the bodies of these several brackets 12 having metal supporting arms 13 fixed or integral therewith, the opposite or free extremities of said arms belng up-turned or formed with abutment flanges 14 whereby to snugly receive therebetween a show-case 15 and obviously, prefer lateral displacement of such show-case with respect to said arms 13.

Fixed or integral with the lower ends of the body portions of the brackets 12 are other or attaching arms 16 also formed of metal and being of lengths approximately corresponding to the width of the particular counters 17 to be equipped with the device. Certain of the ends of these arms 16 are provided with right angularly formed inwardly extending clamping arms 18 adapted to have overlapping engagement with the adjacent marginal portion, of the counter top 17, in the manner as is clearly shown in the Figures i and 5. To efl'ect clamping engagement of the arms 18 with the adjacent portion of said top 17, oppositely disposed wooden wedges 19 are provided and, as will be understood upon reference to the Figure 6, are adapted to be drivingly engaged be tween the free extremities of said arms 18 and the adjacent portions of the lower face of said counter top 17. B reason of this clamping engagement rought about through the driving engagement of the wedges aforesaid, it will be appreciated that the arms 16 will be firmly secured in adjusted positions with respect to said counter top 17 and by consequence, movement of said arms 16 or of the brackets 12 either longituTlinally or transversely of the counter top will be positively prevente l. Also,because of the fact that the wedges 19 are between the free ends of the arms 18 and the adjacent lower face of the counter top 17 it will be appreciated that the same will not in any way become engaged with the clothing of a person movin thereby and likewise, will be protected in t ieir respective clamping positions against accidental or undue dislodgment.

It is timely to note at this point that the vertical body portions of the supporting brackets 12 are arranged adjacent the rearward ends of the supporting arms 16 and by consequence, that the show-case 15 will be supported in a position inset with respect to the front marginal portion of the counter 17, thus preventing interference of the display case 15 with patrons being served over the counter top. Likewise, it will be understood in this connection, that the width of the display case 15 is such as will permit of this so-termed in-setting of the case with respect to the front marginal portion of the counter top 17, whereas the rearward and open side thereof extends slightly beyond the rearward marginal portion of the counter top 17 and thus comes readily and convenientl accessible to employees or attendants be ind the counter.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that while I have hereinbefore described with some degree of particularity, a display case supported upon a pair of my improved suporting brackets, an number of such brackets may be emp oyed, this being de pendent entirely upon the wei ht and len th of the show case received t ereupon ant? supported above the equipped counter top; it bein preferable, however, that the number of rackets employed be kept at minimum whereby to afford a maximum dispensing area over the said equipped counter to reason of the vertical dispostion of the body ortions of the supporting brackets for the isplay case 8, it will be seen that said display case will be supported in a' plane materially above that in which the counter top is arranged and said display case in be ing so supported will afford counter patrons and clerks practically the full area of the counter top. At the same time, the display case 8 will be arranged in a position whereat the contents thereof may be fully and attractivel displayed and likewise, readily accessib e that such contents may be removed for sale or delivery.

The height of the body portions of the supporting brackets may too be varied, so that the display cases supported or received thereupon will be positioned at heights suitable for the particular purpose or occasion.

Manifestly, the construction shownis ca pable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a vertical body portion, a supporting foot fixed to the lower end of the ody portion adjacent one of its ends, said foot being of a length approximately corresponding to the width of a counter top receiving the same and ada ted to be arranged transversely thereof, tlie outer end of the foot having a counter margin engaging gortion, and a horizontal supporting arm xedly mounted intermediately of its ends upon the upper extremity of the body portlon, one part of the arm extending beyondthe,inner end of the body portion.

2. A device of the character described comprising a vertical body portion, a sup- EOI'tlIlg foot fixed to the lower end of the ody portion, said foot being of a substantial length and adapted to be arranged transversely of and extend across a counter top, the said foot having a counter margin engagin portion, and a horizontal supporting arm xedly mounted intermediatel of its ends upon the upper extremity of t e body portion.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY ADAM ALHEIT. 

